ALBANY, N.Y. – The New York State Senate today honored Buffalo Police Officer Patricia Parete, who passed away Saturday after being shot in the line of duty in 2006. Senator Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, sponsored the resolution recognizing the life, contributions and bravery of Officer Parete. Western New York Senators Patrick Gallivan, Mark Grisanti, George Maziarz, Michael Ranzenhofer and Catharine Young joined in support of the resolution adopted in Officer Parete's memory.

Officer Parete and her partner Carl Andolina were shot on December 5, 2006 when they responded to a call on W. Chippewa Street and Whitney Place. Officer Parete was shot twice – the second bullet severely injured her spinal cord and left Parete paralyzed from the neck down. Following a long and brave battle after suffering her injuries in the line of duty, Officer Parete passed away early Saturday morning.

“The Buffalo Police and the entire Western New York community lost a friend, a brave public servant and a source of inspiration when Officer Patty Parete passed away last week,” said Senator Kennedy.

“In the days since Officer Parete passed,” Kennedy added, “she has been remembered as a fighter who relied on sharp instincts, strong work ethic and immense courage to keep our streets safe. We saw that fight over the course of the last six years as she bravely fought against the injuries she suffered in the line of duty. As we remember the life and service of Patty Parete, we can be assured of one thing for certain: her bravery, her courage and her fight made Buffalo and Western New York a safer place to live and work.”

In his remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Kennedy called Parete’s tragic death a sad and sobering reminder of the dangers men and women in law enforcement face every day.

“Each day, the brave men and women who serve in law enforcement leave their entire worlds behind to protect our community. They leave their homes, they leave their families, and they leave their loved ones. They do so knowing that at any moment, danger – like the danger Patty and her partner Carl encountered on that tragic December night in 2006 – can be waiting for them around any corner,” Kennedy said. “The Buffalo Police Department is in mourning today, but they’re not alone. We need to do all we can to assure them that – just as they stand up for us each and every day – today, we stand by them in this moment of mourning.”